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Chief Godwin Obla, SAN, has raised a strong alarm over what he described as a coordinated plot by Fulani herdsmen and terrorists to take over Idoma land through sustained violence and insecurity.
Speaking at the Idoma Centenary Plus Celebration in Otukpo, Benue State, during a keynote lecture titled “The Political Choices of the Idoma People Since 1950: Context, Consequences, and the Path Forward,” Obla warned that the groups are “hell-bent on creating a security quagmire” in Idomaland as a precursor to physically taking over the land and determining the political future of the people.
He noted that the growing wave of attacks on farming communities is not merely a security issue but part of a broader agenda to destabilize the area, weaken traditional institutions, and threaten the survival of the Idoma people. Obla also pointed to the role of alleged internal collaborators and unscrupulous security operatives in worsening the situation, particularly in areas like Agatu and other parts of Idomaland, where thousands have been displaced and farmlands destroyed.
In the same address, Obla addressed the long-standing political marginalization of the Idoma people, revealing why the zone has not produced a governor of Benue State since 1976. He lamented that instead of rallying around a consensus candidate, multiple aspirants often emerge, dividing the Idoma voting strength and weakening their bargaining power.
The senior lawyer called for greater unity among Idoma political and traditional leaders, stronger community vigilance, and the strengthening of local security structures to safeguard lives and property. He also urged traditional rulers to remain politically neutral and focused on protecting the interests of their people.
Chief Obla’s remarks have sparked renewed discussions on security and political strategy within the Idoma nation.
